Here are two recent examples of what can happen when Christians start playing doctor:

Mercy Ministries Admits Claims Were False (Ruth Pollard/The Sydney Morning Herald; Dec 17)

Former directors of Mercy Ministries yesterday admitted the evangelical Christian organisation had engaged in false, misleading and deceptive conduct by wrongly claiming their residential care programs were free and included support from psychologists, dietitians, general practitioners and counsellors.

The admission is part of an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission ruling, after an 18-month investigation into complaints from former residents who were forced to undergo exorcisms and use prayer to treat serious health problems such as bipolar disorder and anorexia.

Targeting girls and women aged 16 to 28, Mercy Ministries also claimed – on its website and in advertising material distributed in Gloria Jeans cafes around the country – that its program was free, yet a Herald investigation revealed residents had to sign over their Centrelink benefits during their stay.

The ACCC ordered the former directors to pay $1050 to each of the 110 young women who took part in their programs from January 2005 to June last year, the total being $118,154. They have also agreed to attend annual trade practices compliance training for three years.

”Given the vital role charitable organisations have in our society, and the trust placed in them, it is imperative that their conduct is of the highest standard, especially in their dealings with vulnerable and disadvantaged members of our community,” the ACCC chairman, Graeme Samuel, said yesterday. ”Misleading conduct of this kind is a matter of serious concern.”

Hillsong Church said in October it had cut ties with the group. At the same time, Mercy Ministries announced it was closing its Sydney home, citing ”extreme financial challenges and a steady drop in our support base”.

Parents Say Church’s Day Care Workers Drugged Children To Make Them Sleep (Melissa Thomas/Courthouse News Service; Dec 18)

CINCINNATI: A church-run day care center gave children an “unprescribed sleep aid” to zonk them out for nap time and concealed it from their parents, according to a class action in Hamilton County Court. Parents say Covenant Apostolic Church workers gave kids a drug that cause[s] “dizziness, grogginess, headaches, abdominal discomfort, confusion, nightmares and sedation,” and the “long term implications are not known at this time.”

Lead plaintiffs Joseph and Andrea Coleman say the church’s day-care workers gave children “unprescribed medication to sedate them while in the care, custody and control of Covenant.” They say the children were “drugged and sedated with unauthorized medication and such information was concealed,” and the children suffered “great physical and mental pain and anguish.”

Springfield Township Police, in suburban Cincinnati, told NBC they are investigating “allegations that some workers at the church’s day care put melatonin in candy to help children sleep.”

The police department sent letters to parents whose children attend the day care center to inform them of the investigation.

In a public statement on Channel 5 Cincinnati’s Web site, Springfield Police said, “We don’t know how long this went on, how many people were affected or how many people at the day care may have been involved.”

Melatonin is [a] hormone naturally occurring in the body, produced by the pineal gland. It is believed to regulate sleep and wake cycles. Melatonin has been available as a dietary supplement in the United States since 1993 and is not regulated by the FDA, though it is illegal in many other countries.

The parents seek damages for negligence and battery. They are represented by Alan Statman with Statman, Harris & Eyrich.